An obscure federal program raises billions of dollars a year through taxes on every airplane ticket sold in the USA taxes that can add up to 15% to the cost of a flight. Federal lawmakers have used some of the program's money to build and maintain the world's most expansive network of airports with no scheduled passenger flights. Known as general-aviation airports, they operate separately from the commercial airports that handle almost all passenger flights.

Ever since its inception 12 years ago, the Roth individual retirement account has been popular with investors who love its simplicity. But not everyone who wants a Roth can have one. You can't contribute to a Roth this year if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $176,000 if you're married or $120,000 if you're single. however, starting in 2010, the income limit on Roth conversions will disappear, providing a backdoor way for anyone who has an IRA to own a Roth.

As Congress searches for ways to control health care costs, a new report provides a sizable target: obesity. Americans who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008, double the amount a decade ago, according to a study by government scientists and the non-profit research group RTI International.